Poulsbo to Renton is 71.9 miles and takes about 1h 38m via State Highway 16 and I-5, with a fuel budget near $15 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive connects two points within Washington State, both situated in the Pacific Coast region. For the most part, you'll be on highways, making for a straightforward commute. If you're looking for a simple, efficient trip with minimal fuss, this route is a solid choice.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
36 miles from Poulsbo, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 49m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
State Highway 16
26.5 mi
33m
I 5
20.9 mi
26m
State Highway 3 Northwest
15.4 mi
19m
State Highway 3 West
2.1 mi
3m
I 405
1.3 mi
1m
Rainier Avenue South
0.9 mi
2m
Jensen Way Northeast
0.6 mi
1m
Northwest Finn Hill Road
0.6 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
State Highway 16
— 26.5 mi, about 33m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Poulsbo, WA and Renton, WA.
1
Start on this road
68 ft·6 sec·this road
2
Turn right onto Jensen Way Northeast
0.6 mi·1 min·Jensen Way Northeast
3
At end of road, turn right onto Front Street Northeast
0.3 mi·58 sec·Front Street Northeast
4
Continue on Northwest Lindvig Way
0.2 mi·37 sec·Northwest Lindvig Way
5
Continue on Northwest Finn Hill Road
0.6 mi·1 min·Northwest Finn Hill Road
Use the straight / left lanes.
6
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·38 sec
Toward WA 3 South: BremertonUse the left lane.
7
Merge onto WA 3
15 mi·19 min·State Highway 3 Northwest
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on WA 3
2.1 mi·3 min·State Highway 3 West
9
Continue on WA 16
0.2 mi·19 sec·West State Route 16
10
Continue on WA 16
27 mi·33 min·State Highway 16
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork
1.0 mi·2 min
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi·16 sec
Toward I 5 North: SeattleUse the slight left lane.
13
Merge onto I 5
0.3 mi·19 sec·I 5
14
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
21 mi·25 min·I 5
Use the slight right lane.
15
Take the exit
448 ft·10 sec
Exit 154A-BToward WA 518 West, I 405 North: Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, BellevueUse the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi·50 sec
Exit 154BToward I 405 North: Renton, BellevueUse the slight right lane.
17
Merge onto I 405
1.3 mi·1 min·I 405
18
Take the exit
0.4 mi·30 sec
Exit 2Toward WA 167 South: Renton, AuburnUse the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·26 sec
Toward Renton, Rainier Avenue SouthUse the straight lane.
20
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·42 sec
Toward WA 167 North: Renton, Rainier Avenue SouthUse the slight right lane.
21
Merge onto WA 167
0.2 mi·22 sec·Valley Freeway
22
Continue on WA 167
0.9 mi·2 min·Rainier Avenue South
Use the left lane.
23
Turn right
39 ft·2 sec
24
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of 1 hour and 38 minutes, this trip is easily completed in a single day. You can afford to leave mid-morning to avoid the worst of rush hour traffic, aiming for a relaxed departure. While the drive is not excessively long, consider a brief stop around the halfway point to stretch your legs. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the $15 estimated cost suggests a straightforward fuel-up is all that's needed; don't wait until the last minute to refuel before hitting the I-5 stretch.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 36 miles from Poulsbo, WA, or about 49m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 26.5 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 16 miles or 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 36 miles or 49m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 22m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Renton, WA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Poulsbo, WA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Poulsbo, WA
This is one driving day of about 71.9 miles and 1h 38m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 16 miles from Poulsbo, WA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on State Highway 16 for about 26.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 68.1 and 70.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
68.1 mi into trip|~1h 31m in
Take the exit toward WA 518 West, I 405 North: Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, Bellevue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 154A-B
Toward WA 518 West, I 405 North: Seattle-Tacoma...
9
68.2 mi into trip|~1h 31m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 405 North: Renton, Bellevue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 154B
Toward I 405 North: Renton, Bellevue
8
69.9 mi into trip|~1h 33m in
Take the exit toward WA 167 South: Renton, Auburn
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 2
Toward WA 167 South: Renton, Auburn
8
70.3 mi into trip|~1h 34m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Renton, Rainier Avenue South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight lane.
Toward Renton, Rainier Avenue South
9
70.6 mi into trip|~1h 34m in
Keep slight right at fork toward WA 167 North: Renton, Rainier Avenue South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward WA 167 North: Renton, Rainier Avenue Sou...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$15.05 one way
$30.10 round trip
$5.32/gal25.4 MPG avg25 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.58
$15.78
$31.56
premium
$5.77
$16.33
$32.66
diesel
$5.61
$15.87
$31.75
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$15
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 25.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
21.6
0
$7.55
$3.45
Efficient EV
18
0
$6.29
$2.88
EV Truck/SUV
28.8
0
$10.07
$4.60
Gas CO2
25 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (68% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Poulsbo, WA
Evening
in Poulsbo on Saturday
Local time
7:50 PM
PDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Renton, WA
Evening
in Renton on Saturday
Local time
7:50 PM
PDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
1 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 38m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Klondike Gold Rush - Seattle Unit National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Seattle flourished during and after the Klondike Gold Rush. Merchants supplied people from around the world passing through this port city on their way to a remarkable adventure in the Yukon Territory...
10 mi from route
~24 min detour
Free
near mile 71.9
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This is primarily a highway-focused drive, with 93% of the journey utilizing major roadways. You'll experience a longest stretch of 26.5 miles on State Highway 16, offering a good period of consistent travel. The route transitions through different highway systems, including State Highway 3 Northwest and I-5, meaning you'll encounter varying speeds and traffic patterns typical of major interstates. Expect a dynamic driving experience as you navigate these well-trafficked corridors.
93% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 26.5 mi on State Highway 16.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on State Highway 16 and I 5. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 68.1 miles in.
Driving Effort10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 71.9 miles you will encounter 16 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 68.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 68.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 69.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Poulsbo, WA to Renton, WA, road signs begin pointing toward Bellevue along the way.
Bellevue
68.1 mi in|~1h 31m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 38m. Total distance: 71.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 38m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 26.5 miles on State Highway 16. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Renton, WA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 68.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 68.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 69.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Klondike Gold Rush - Seattle Unit National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Renton, WA before heading back.
